Youth homeless figures is triple the official statistics

Experts at Cambridge University have found that the number of young people who are homeless triples the government’s official figures.

Over three times more people have had to rely on councils and charities due to homelessness in the past year, finds Cambridge University, with figures reaching 83,000 rather than the governments suggested 26,852. The reports found that at any one time there are around 35,000 young people in homeless accommodation, reports the Independent.

The “worryingly high” levels of young people using homelessness services across Britain is “a minimum estimate and it is likely that in reality more homeless young people access support across the UK”, the research said.

Centrepoint commissioned Cambridge University’s Centre for Housing and Planning Research team to provide a comprehensive picture of youth homelessness to date. It looks at official figures in conjunction with examinations of 40 local authorities and a national poll of over 2,000 young people.

“When the poll data was scaled up to reflect the wider population, an estimated 1.3 million young people aged 16 to 24 have slept rough during the past year,” said the research.

“Successive governments have been making policy in the dark as they have failed to grasp the sheer scale of youth homelessness in the UK,” said Balbir Chatrik, policy director of Centrepoint. “We’re seeing the consequences of funding decisions based on this lack of knowledge which have placed extreme pressure on charities and local authorities, with the majority of hostels full or oversubscribed. Young people typically find themselves facing homelessness through no fault of their own. As a society, we owe them a national safety net devised from more than just guesswork.”

Responding to the findings, Campbell Robb, the chief executive of Shelter, said: “This research paints a grim picture of youth homelessness in the UK and demonstrates that the Government’s current plan to cut housing benefit for 18- to 21-year-olds could be nothing short of catastrophic – as it’s this which helps to pay for the hostel beds that keep young people off the streets. If the Government really wants to help young people, its first priority should be to invest in the safe, secure and genuinely affordable homes that are so desperately needed, rather than stripping away the threadbare safety net they have at the moment.”

In a statement, a government spokesman said: “Since 2010, we have increased spending to prevent homelessness, making over £500m available to local authorities and voluntary sector.”

Related articles

New service to support homeless people in Birmingham

A new dedicated Homeless Street Triage car will be responding to the rising number of calls reporting homelessness, begging and anti-social drinking in the city, reports 24dash.In the last year –...

By Laura Matthews

09 Sep

Gym in Kent hopes to improve health and fitness of homeless people

Riverside is a specialist in working with single homeless people to help them get their lives back on track and into accommodation. Their new project, a gymnasium, has been funded by the Riverside...

By Laura Matthews

08 Sep

The cost of homelessness in Hackney doubles

Figures have shown that the cost of homelessness in 2009/10 was £3,092,255 compared to £7,167,440 in 2014/15, with a cut on staff spending from £3,239,653 to £2,608,491 reports 24dash.Hackney...

By Laura Matthews

04 Sep

Two homelessness services to be investigated

The Scottish Housing Regulator is set to investigate every aspect of services offered by Dumfries and Galloway Council, whilst also examining how homeless people access help and support at Scottish...

By Laura Matthews

03 Sep

Homeless project for young people under threat due to cuts

Platform for Life was expected to attract interest from numerous housing associations with its scheme to convert properties into accommodation for young people in further education, training or work,...

By Laura Matthews

01 Sep

Charities warns Irish government of homelessness crisis

Social Justice Ireland is calling for a new funding system that will meet the demand and reveal that only 20 council homes for families have been completed within the first three months of this year,...

By Laura Matthews

26 Aug

Newspaper office to become a centre for homeless people

The old office for the Doncaster Free Press is being transformed into flats and other facilities for people who are homeless, reports Hold the Front Page. The building is being turned into...

By Laura Matthews

20 Aug

Cuts leaving people in Cheltenham needing homelessness support

Bosses at CCP and Cheltenham Borough Council have said the “devastating impact” of benefit cuts in the town are causing issues for many people, report the Gloucestershire Echo.Over the past few...

By Laura Matthews

19 Aug

Concern that homelessness in Cambridge is at ‘tipping point’

Not only do figures show a rise in quarterly numbers by 24 households, they also reveal that over 350 cases were placed in temporary accommodation over the last year, which was a rise of 50 cases on...

By Laura Matthews

11 Aug

Charities say Wales is “setting an example” for homelessness

A joint report by Crisis and the Joseph Rowntree Foundation has praised Welsh laws that are trying to address the issues of homelessness, reports the BBC.However they warn that the removal of...

By Laura Matthews

Support Solutions 5th National Housing Support & Social Care Conference 2014
The Social and Financial return seminar was very helpful, helped me think about our approach to bidding, negotiating for funding and keeping hold of what we have! The New Technology seminar was really an eye opener- really got me thinking about potential applications for older people.
P.M - Four Housing